Christie report card: years 1-3

Although Gov. Chris Christie's chief successes during the past year - teacher tenure reform and the consolidation of the state's medical and health sciences universities (although the jury is still out on that one) - were relatively modest compared to his first two years, his entire body of work is deserving of the high grades it has engendered in the polls.

He has made most New Jerseyans feel good about the state again, and the direction in which it is moving. He has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, most notably in his handling of superstorm Sandy.

He has disappointed in some areas, however, most notably in getting the state's economy back on track, his failure to provide needed property tax relief and his poor record on environmental issues.

Leadership: B+

Clearly, this is his strong suit. He did a masterful job of leading in the aftermath of Sandy. His blunt, straight-talking style clearly resonates in New Jersey and beyond. He knows how to take charge, knows how to sell an idea, and knows how and when to compromise to move his agenda forward.

The only demerits here are for the times he has gone too far in his criticisms, which we believe undercut his effectiveness. In the past year, he seems to have reined in some of the gratuitously harsh rhetoric.

Spending and taxes: C

The 2 percent property tax cap brokered by Christie and Democratic Senate President Stephen Sweeney has helped slow the rate of property tax hikes; last year's increase was one of the lowest in the past two decades. But Christie's elimination or reduction of homestead rebates that had been used to offset property taxes has actually increased the property tax burden on most homeowners.

His focus on reducing spending was necessary. But he has refused to address the state's over-reliance on the property tax, which unfairly punishes the middle class. It's unrealistic to think any substantial property tax relief can be provided without providing a better balance among government's three primary revenue sources - property taxes, sales taxes and income taxes.

He also has failed to support legislation that would provide financial incentives for towns to share services and consolidate - potential sources of significant cost savings and tax relief.

Benefit reforms: B

New Jersey's health care and pension systems were completely unsustainable before Christie and Sweeney helped right the ship. The fixes weren't perfect, however, and the state still faces major benefit funding challenges. But the 2011 reforms were a major achievement.

Education: B

The teacher tenure reform achieved last year was a major accomplishment, and the merit-pay experiment in Newark could have positive implications statewide. Restructured school aid packages last year also were a step in the right direction.

But it was a blemish on Christie's record to make educators feel like enemies in his war with the NJEA. And while we support efforts to provide more options for students trapped in continually failing urban school districts, Christie's emphasis on charter schools has had only mixed success. He deserves credit for trying to improve education in the underperforming districts, but a clear positive trend has yet to be seen.

Transportation: C

On the plus side, he hired a commissioner, Jim Simpson, who has embraced mass transit and approved several real-time and social media innovations to make commuters' lives easier. The DOT has led the Complete Streets policy drive, which requires municipalities and counties that voluntarily sign on to design roads for all users - cars, pedestrians and cyclists - when they're rebuilt.

On the down side, he has replenished the state Transportation Trust Fund by using one-shots like the unused funding from the ARC tunnel project he killed and by borrowing when New Jersey is already fourth among all states in total debt. He also has been using toll roads as a cash cow.

NJ Transit fares went up 25 percent under his watch, and he has been as guilty as his predecessors in packing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with political appointees, the latest being ex-chief of staff Richard Bagger to the Board of Commissioners. He's also thwarted Port Authority reform efforts in the Legislature.

Energy, environment: C-

On the plus side, he has supported wind energy initiatives and opposed liquified natural gas plants off the Jersey coast. But he failed to implement the Global Warming Response Act and withdrew from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

He hasn't done nearly enough to help prevent further degradation of Barnegat Bay, and he has consistently chosen policies that give economic growth precedence over sound environmental stewardship. His state Department of Environmental Protection also has weakened beach access rules.

Economy, business: C

He has won the confidence of the business community by working to eliminate some of the needless red tape, expanding business tax incentives and chatting up the state as a good place to do business. But New Jersey continues to rank near the bottom nationally on business climate surveys. New Jersey's overall economy lags behind most other states in the Northeast. The state's stubbornly high unemployment rate - 9.6 percent, fourth highest in the U.S. - is nearly 2 percentage points above the national average, its foreclosure rate is the second highest in the nation, and the real estate market is still sputtering.

Gaming: C

Christie continues to put all his chips on casino gambling in Atlantic City, which is proving to be a disastrous bet. New Jersey is besieged by competition for the gaming dollar on all sides. He has rejected the idea of allowing a casino at the Meadowlands, arguing against logic that it would hurt the casinos in Atlantic City.

With competition for gamblers' dollars coming from Philadelphia, the Poconos, New York City and elsewhere, it is foolish to limit gaming to one beach town. His belated support for online sports betting may not pass muster in the courts.

Open government: B

For the most part, Christie and his administration have been an open book. He has created a government transparency website http://www.yourmoney.nj.gov/transparency/expenditures/ where citizens can track expenditures, property taxes, pension obligations and state's bonded indebtedness. Government departments under his watch have been largely responsive to Open Public Records Act requests. His grade would go from a B to an A if the Government Records Council had faster turnaround times for citizens. It takes months for it to hear a complaint.

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Christie report card: years 1-3

Overall grade: B- Although Gov.

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